He’s only about the most talented improvisational guitarist that’s ever been.
I wouldn't say "most" but he was certainly up there on the top tier. I've always thought three of the most underrated guitarists were Zappa, Brian May (of Queen) and Buck Dharma (of Blue Oyster Cult) - I put all three right up there with Hendricks and Page. I think his songwriting chops were mediocre at best, though. My first concert was Zappa and the Strawbs band in 1972 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. The best part of Zappa was the fact that Zappa music NEVER sounded like anyone else - he was a wildly original and creative artist. That's awful refreshing. Today everybody pretty much sounds like everybody else.
Incredible talent he was. Is someone suggesting otherwise? I did not take time to click the link and read. Thanks.
‘zackly !
Yes. Yes, and YES. Zappa was amazing in his early days of improv blues and rock before he hired other talent so he could focus on composition. I’m shocked at what I just read from this Kyle Smith nitwit, but I haven’t seen the film yet, so I may be in for a snow job piece. I just can’t believe what I just read.
“He’s only about the most talented improvisational guitarist that’s ever been.”
Many years ago I knew a professional musician - a flautist. While she was in college - and already a very respected musician - Zappa was brought in to “conduct” the university symphony orchestra. She said it was one of the worst musical experiences of her life because Zappa so clearly had no idea what he was doing.
Zappa was overrated. I could never understand why people thought he was so great. It’s like saying Basquiat was a great artist. It makes no sense and no one has any proof Zappa was a great musician. No great compositions. No memorable songs that any average person knows or that even critics outside of rock music respect.
I saw Zappa in about 1979 at Cobo Arena in Detroit, just off the the right hand side of the stage, on the riser. He was more of the band conductor rather than strictly a guitar player for the concert, but when he plugged in and turned up his guitar and started playing, the sound pretty much overwhelmed the acoustics of the hall. BTW, I can recite the lyrics of “Yellow Snow” verbatim from my weed-toking, hippy days in Detroit.